Policy updates: what property lawyers need to know

New leasehold and commonhold reform legislation for review

The draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill has been published for pre-legislative scrutiny ahead of being placed before parliament.

Some content in the bill is left blank until the results of the consultation on banning leasehold for new flats are known (more details in our consultations section below).

Mazur: what this means for conveyancers

Mazur was about the conduct of litigation, but it could apply more broadly to those carrying out other reserved legal activities such as conveyancing.

Reserved legal activities can only be carried on by practitioners who are either authorised or exempt.

One of the exemptions is for those who carry on the activity at the direction or under the supervision of an authorised person.

This exemption applies to conveyancers but not to the conduct of litigation.

The key for conveyancers is supervision. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) provides guidance on supervision.

Our updated Mazur resources are available on our website, including a practice note, frequently asked questions, and a ‘what’s changing’ overview.

Renters’ Rights Act 2025 timetable announced

As part of the UK government’s phased roadmap, the implementation timetable has been revealed.

Measures are being introduced from now until 2028. The first phase of the key measures is being introduced on 1 May 2026, including:

• abolition of section 21 notices (no-fault notices)
• assured shorthold tenancies will automatically convert to assured tenancies
• the new grounds for possession and changes to existing grounds
• introduction of new rent review provisions
• ban on bidding to establish rents
• limiting the amount of rent payable in advance
• anti-discrimination measures in respect of families and those receiving benefits
• the right for a tenant to request a pet

MoJ seeking to take interest from client accounts

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is consulting on proposals to divert interest from law firms’ client accounts to the MoJ budget.

Interest on lawyers’ client account schemes (sometimes known as IOLTA schemes) vary in detail, but the basic principle is they channel interest earned on lawyers’ client accounts into a central fund.

AML supervision moving to the FCA

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will become the single professional services supervisor for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) supervision, significantly reducing the role of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Further updates on AML will be provided as soon as we know more.

Current consultations

Below is a list of recent government proposals that could impact your area of work.

These are all still active consultations, so we invite you to share your views and expertise.

Moving to commonhold: banning leasehold for new flats

A ban on the use of leasehold for new flats has been proposed.

As a result, the UK government hopes the reformed commonhold model will be the default tenure for new flats.

Published on 27 January, this consultation closes on 24 April 2026.

Freehold estates

The government published two consultations on 18 December to tackle the growing issue of unadopted amenities on privately managed housing estates, and to give greater protection to homeowners living on these estates.

Both consultations close on 12 March 2026. 

Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements (England only)

The proposals aim to tackle the root causes that have led to the rise of unadopted amenities on new freehold estates, including:

• increasing the adoption of estate amenities on new development, such as roads, drainage systems, and green spaces by public authorities
• introducing common standards for adoptable amenities
• considering mandatory adoption for certain public infrastructure
• removing perverse incentives driving non-adoption
• improving data and transparency on estate management arrangements
• introducing a new assessment of financial impact on homeowners
• banning ‘embedded’ management arrangements and promoting resident-controlled management as the default
• strengthening dispute resolution for amenity adoption and quality issues

This consultation also looks to gather evidence about the impacts of these proposals on homeowners, developers, local authorities and management companies.

Enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates (England and Wales)

A robust package of measures is set out to support existing homeowners.

The UK government confirmed its intent to ban the use of outdated remedies for non-payment of all rentcharge arrears contained in sections 121 and 122 of the Law of Property Act 1925.

Enhanced consumer protections are added to implement new protections in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 for homeowners on privately managed estates.

This will create a new regulatory framework that will make estate management companies more accountable to homeowners for how their money is spent.

There are also proposals to cap the level of administration charges that rentcharge owners may pass on to homeowners when seeking to recover arrears of regulated rentcharges (which can no longer be created by virtue of the Rentcharges Act 1977).

How we’re advocating for you: consultations we’ve responded to

Drawing on the expertise of our committees and member feedback, we recently responded to the following consultations:

Home buying and selling reform

We feel that a more reliable home buying and selling system needs informed consumers and high-quality professional services, supported by technology.

The aims of the UK government’s proposed reforms broadly align with these views.

But, until the government gives more detail, our assessment of its proposals and their potential impact is provisional.

Material information in property listings

We support the proposal’s aims of better transparency and consumer understanding in residential property transactions. But, we stressed that material information is not a silver bullet.

Earlier access to reliable information can improve decision making. This demands a framework that reflects market realities, professional roles and consumer behaviour.

We’re now waiting for the roadmap that the government has said will be published in 2026 with the outcome of the home buying and selling reform and material information in property listings consultations.

We released a practice note on consumer protection measures in conveyancing, following the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

Requirement for tax advisers to register with HMRC

A legal requirement for tax advisers was proposed; tax advisers who interact with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on behalf of clients must register with HMRC and meet minimum standards.

We responded last September and agree with the government’s objective to raise the standards of tax advisers.

However, the proposals, including the definition of a tax adviser are too broad.

We have expressed concerns about conveyancers having to register because they are obliged to interact with HMRC in relation to stamp duty land tax.

We expect to see the guidance HMRC says it will issue soon.

Any changes introduced by the UK government should be proportionate and account for the existing framework of the SRA.